Worried Guy's Incontinence Journey - Sling

Interesting, I wonder if they did not give me something else in the drip...drip because my memory seemed to fade the longer it got into the surgery.

Carl,
I had Versed included in my IV. It is used for sedation, anxiety relief and memory loss. That's the only way my wife can get me into the car to go to the vet Uro.

For the first time in 18 months I got up out of bed without wet pants! Of course that's because I'm wearing a catheter and a 2 liter bag. It's supposed to be removed today for my voiding trial.

I'm taking the Hydrocodone to as recommended- 1 every 4 hours - but am still quite sore. Sitting is a problem even with a donut. The office is about 30 miles from here. If I start walking now I might make it in time.

Jeff

Good luck to you.

As a successful--totally dry---Advance Sling recipient, I can tell you it does work. My surgeon, Dr. George Webster, estimates tha if you are an ideal candidate you have a 60% chance of being totally dry and a 90% chance of being "significantly" helped. When I asked him what the latter meant, he said that I would be able to feel self assured in all social situations. As it turned out, I ended up better than that, but that would have been enough.

I cannot emphasize enough the need to eliminate any undo stress on the sling. Do not overlift(1 gallon milk maximum weight), overstretch and no sex. If you there is ever a time to be overcautious, it is now!!!

One last note. If you leak after the catherer is removed, you will leak. As my doctor put it--the sling will never be better than right after surgery. It is at maximum tension and position. Your job isto keep it there until the scarring permanently holds it in place.

I was cautious on all thing for eight weeks.

The sling gave me back my Quality of Life---hope it does the same for you

OkNow, Thanks for the encouragement and advice.

I am back from the Uro. The catheter is out and I am dry! Holy Carp!
On the other hand, I am having trouble peeing. The most I can manage right now is about 70 ml. I have gone 3 times already and it is always the same: 65-75 ml. It dribbles out and I am afraid to push. I typically produce about 1500 ml per day so if it takes me 20 visits per day for a day or two, so be it. My pad is dry! I still have not had a bowel movement - 48 hours. I took milk of magnesia to help things along.
The Uro also stressed that I should take it easy. No sex, don't use the VED for a while. I am going to let the sling heal into my body.
I noticed my scrotum is starting to swell a bit. It is not painful so I'll wait a bit. Just take the hydrocodone and take a nap.

My neighbor just shoveled my driveway and my wife is taking care of the wood stove. Life is good.
Jeff

Post Edited (Worried Guy) : 1/11/2011 3:57:21 PM (GMT-7)

Jeff. good update, take it easy on yourself. You got some healing to do there, and all kind of swelling taking place, might not be the best time to be so scientific about, let your body heal, and rest brother.

David in SC

Jeff is DRY?????? Yahoo! it's about time! Jeff is a free man. let's hope he stays that way.
jeff, you, more than anyone I know, deserves to get this all behind him. Come for a visit during recovery. I think we should visit the waterworks, fountains, plumbing factories to remind you of your past. Hmmmm...how about the Museum of Sex to help with your future???
love ya
Paul

Almost makes me wish I had another catheter to blow up at the event in honor of Jeff, perhaps we could do a bonfire of his leftover pads and pull ups.

Update Jan 12---
I seem to have no capacity. I am still on the Hydrocodone. I have sudden urge to go about once per hour. Even in drug induced sleep I wake up having pee dreams. Here is my schedule so far. Is this normal? (Not the taking data - I know that is not normal.) I mean is it normal to pee so many times and have such a small capacity?
I am still wearing pads to catch the blood leakage.

11-Jan
Time ml
10:00 100 In Uro's office after filling
13:00 70
14:00 70
15:30 68
16:20 40
17:50 48
18:38 30
18:49 53
19:50 68
20:48 81
21:36 76
22:15 70
12-Jan
0:33 113
1:55 109
3:32 105
5:13 72
6:40 96
6:56 49
8:00 70
8:17 46

I have been waking up like clockwork with the urge to pee. When I was wearing pads at least I could sleep through the night. Rats!
Please tell me it gets better. It will get better!
Jeff

First, it is good that you are able to urinate. Surgeons that implant the sling try to get the maximum tension while allowing normal flow. Secondly, as with any surgery there is some swelling so I suspect that you are not getting complete emptying because of that.

I would think your surgeon's office should be able to answer your "Is this normal?" questions regarding frequency and any other sensations..

Once again, good luck and err on the side of caution during the first six weeks. There will be a strong urge to test the sling after about 4 weeks, because you are going to feel a lot better than you do now. Don't do it! Wait the full six weeks. It sounds like you have a good start on things, but you need to make sure you don't take a "let's see what happens if I do this" experimental step before you heal. By the way, after about 3 weeks you may feel a little burning sensation.  I didn't feel that, but my doctors told me it might happen and that it would be the scarring taking over from the internal sutures.

Good luck!!!

Update 1/12 3 pm

IT WAS NOT NORMAL!!! I am just back from the hospital carrying the 2 liter yellow purse - again.
After I posted my question here, I called the Uro's office and they said to come in immediately. They did an ultrasound which showed I had 643 ml in my bladder -after I'd emptied! That is a full 20 oz bottle of pop! They put the catheter in and I got immediate relief. Whew! My scrotum and the area around it is swollen and that might have added some pressure to the sling.
I will go back on Friday at 2 pm for another voiding trial.
Oh well... Now I have an even better excuse to lay on the couch and watch my neighbor snow blow my drivway.
Heck, I can even have a beer if I was so inclined!

I feel so much better with an empty bladder. :)

Jeff

Good judgement in communicating with your uro!
Always the best course of action when in doubt.

Tallguy,
Patience or not, clearly I could not have survived another day with my bladder expanding like that. It was dangerous. I am being a good boy and letting my wife and neighbors pity me.

By the way, I also asked the Doc about the position my legs were in during the sling surgery. He said I was placed on my back in a sitting position with my knees a shoulder width apart. The groin soreness is where the sling is attached.
My crotch is so sore it feels like a couple of surgeons spread my legs like they were pulling on a wishbone. I figured the winner was the guy who didn't get my penis.

Jeff

Jeff, Well Cajun told me you were dry and now this. Hopefully when things settle in you will find that happy balance. Glad that other than this set back you are good. I seems to me that minus the swelling you should be good, and then you can stretch you arms out and say , dry at last, dry at last good god almighty dry at last. I just got home from houston last night and that was some trip home (350miles). I got to know all the little pokey things that are now part of me. Oddly, I feel pretty good this am.

Anyway, lets get you peeing, fast.

Ron